Increased Hepatic Lipid Peroxidation with Methionine Toxicity in the Rat

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Abstract
Consumption of excess methionine by rats is known to cause membrane damage, liver enlargement and accumulation of iron in the spleen. In this study two groups (n = 5) of male, Wistar rats were pair-fed either a methionine supplemented (20.0 g/kg) or control (2.0 g/kg) diet for 7 weeks. Hepatic and erythrocyte copper-zinc superoxide dismutase activities were significantly reduced (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively) by methionine supplementation while the activities of catalase (P < 0.01 and 0.05) and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05) were significantly increased. Methionine supplementation also increased hepatic lipid peroxidation (P < 0.01), as measured by the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and iron (P < 0.001) concentrations. These changes are indicative of increased oxidative stress resulting from methionine toxicity.